Meta Platforms is facing a £3bn lawsuit in the UK over alleged data protection failures in its WhatsApp messaging service, according to a legal claim filed on Monday. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of millions of UK users, accuses the company of mishandling user data and failing to comply with privacy regulations.
The claim, filed by law firm Mishcon de Reya, alleges that Meta violated UK and EU data protection laws by not properly safeguarding WhatsApp user data. It seeks compensation for users who have used the app since 2018, with potential damages of up to £3bn.
Meta has denied the allegations, stating that WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to protect user messages and that the company complies with all applicable laws. A spokesperson said the claim is “without merit” and that the company will defend itself vigorously.
The lawsuit comes amid increasing scrutiny of Meta’s data practices globally, including a separate US lawsuit filed by a former WhatsApp cybersecurity executive who claims the company ignored internal security flaws. The UK case is expected to proceed through the courts over the coming months.
